Silverstone Classic 2010 vs Silverstone F1 2010

[RetroCosworth]

Evening all,

I've decided between two events I would like to go to, the only issue is, being a student I can only afford to go to one.

After looking at the costs I've come to the conclusion that Silverstone Classic 2010 is the more affordable one over the weekend in comparison to the F1.

However, it would be awesome to go to the Silverstone F1 Grand Prix this year rather than next.

Can you help me make up my mind?

Cheers

Charlie

[KO993c4s]

I vote for the Classic for the following reasons...


1) costs
2) things to do
3) get close to cars and drivers to view, chat and photograph
4) night racing
5) variety of machinery
6) very relaxed atmosphere

[OzCupra]

Agree totally with the above... Silverstone Classic.

Although if you can get to Silverstone for a test day they are (I think) still free.. That way you get a day of current F1 action and some classic action later on.

Never been to the F1 other than testing as I feel that it's really not worth it at Silverstone when you can get a day in for nothing...

[RetroCosworth]

KO993c4s said:

I vote for the Classic for the following reasons...


1) costs
2) things to do
3) get close to cars and drivers to view, chat and photograph
4) night racing
5) variety of machinery
6) very relaxed atmosphere

How does the camping work at Silverstone Classic?

[Piglet]

Actually your decision really should be Le Mans Classic 2010 v Silverstone F1 2010 - same weekend. I've got to to be at the GP but if I had any real choice it would be LM, no brainer.

[KO993c4s]

I have never camped at Silverstone so cant offer any thoughts or pointers... but I have seen the camping area which is on-site (motorhomes, tents etc) and I have also seen tents set up in the grounds (not sure if that was legal!)...

[CardShark]

How big an F1 fan are you? I think that this years team and driver line up should make for an incredible season - Massa vs Alonso, Hamilton vs Button, Schumacher vs Rosberg etc etc.

Having said that, I'm torn between the Le Mans Classic and the British GP....

If you're a genuine fan of both events then I'd probably choose the Classic in your situation simply because you'd get better value for money and the TV coverage of the F1 would be better.

[wackojacko]

KO993c4s said:

I vote for the Classic for the following reasons...


1) costs
2) things to do
3) get close to cars and drivers to view, chat and photograph
4) night racing
5) variety of machinery
6) very relaxed atmosphere

Silverstone Classic by far. Last year I was invited by Harley UK to stay and got a camping pich for free. All of the reasons above I agree with totaly.

[chevronb37]

RetroCosworth said:

KO993c4s said:

I vote for the Classic for the following reasons...


1) costs
2) things to do
3) get close to cars and drivers to view, chat and photograph
4) night racing
5) variety of machinery
6) very relaxed atmosphere

How does the camping work at Silverstone Classic?

We've camped at Whittlebury the last couple of years. Plenty of decent cars to enjoy and a friendly atmosphere. It's about 10 minutes walk from the circuit. The Classic is a fine event, but very, very expensive these days. My personal recomendation would be to forget both and attend the Goodwood Revival - of the 300 or so motor sport events I've attended, it is head and shoulders about the rest.

[KO993c4s]

The Goodwood revivial is cheaper than Silverstone Classic ...? Really...? I must go and check out my sums for both again...

[chevronb37]

KO993c4s said:

The Goodwood revivial is cheaper than Silverstone Classic ...? Really...? I must go and check out my sums for both again...

Sorry, my post must have left room for ambiguity. To clarify - the Silverstone Classic is marginally cheaper than Goodwood. My old man paid on the gate for Silverstone Classic in 2009 and it was about £50. Mercifully I'd managed a limited advanced deal for the weekend. Now for seeing the same machinery you can see at Masters and VSCC events at Brands and Donington for £15, I consider that pricey. Goodwood has the best atmosphere, the best viewpoints, the best drivers and the best grids of cars in European historic racing. If I was only attending one big event in the year, it would be that one. Silverstone has the benefit of the spectacle of Group C, I grant you. Standing on the outfield as they turn left into Maggotts just inches in front of you is divine, but let's be honest, there's scarcely half a dozen drivers who can do justice to those machines. On the other hand, standing out at "The Corner with no Name" at Goodwood for the TT Celebration race, where every driver is top-drawer is, for me, an even greater spectacle. And don't even get me started on Mark Gillies wrestling R3A on a qualifying lap...

Everyone's different and for some the period 1948-1966 holds little interest so I can understand the Silverstone Classic being the better option. However, I thought it worth mentioning that if you're going to spend a wedge on attending a big race meet in this country, Goodwood ought to be considered.

[KO993c4s]

Thxs for the clarification - I think that Silverstone 2-4-1 ticket deals are always available and for the full weekend, I think its £75 for two tickets for 3 days (thru my Car Club)... I think catering @ Silverstone is cheaper than Goodwood... I enjoy watching the amateurs and semi professionals driving their machinery! And there is the free music concert on Sat night ...

[crossle]

Piglet said:

Actually your decision really should be Le Mans Classic 2010 v Silverstone F1 2010 - same weekend. I've got to to be at the GP but if I had any real choice it would be LM, no brainer.

I'll be at LM, and bunking back to the villa to catch the BGP on telly...

But I'll also be at Goodwood for both FOS & Revival.

Silverstone: bland, bleak and soul-less with the action way too far away from the spectators, thanks to F1 run off areas. A bit different to my first visit back in 1960...

[chevronb37]

KO993c4s said:

Thxs for the clarification - I think that Silverstone 2-4-1 ticket deals are always available and for the full weekend, I think its £75 for two tickets for 3 days (thru my Car Club)... I think catering @ Silverstone is cheaper than Goodwood... I enjoy watching the amateurs and semi professionals driving their machinery! And there is the free music concert on Sat night ...

No problem, sorry for the confusion! I'm an absolute sucker for anything with old cars and have been attending the Silverstone Classic in its various iterations for 15 years. However, Goodwood is numero uno for me. Have you tried Monaco Historique? That's a fabulous weekend and much less expensive than you'd imagine. A grandstand seat at Casino Square on practice day was 20 Euros - best value for a day at the races I've ever had. We're finally getting to Le Mans Classic this year as well - always clashed with FoS. This year they're consecutive weekends so we're doing both - can't wait!

[delS1]

What about the classic festival at Brands? (if there is one) the only problem with Silverstone (for photos) is your so far from the track. Brands however is superb and you feel so much more part of the action and for pics it's great.

This year I am very tempted to try the Spa summer classic, reviews are always very good, great for photos and camping is cheap.

delS1

[richebets]

chevronb37 said:

KO993c4s said:

The Goodwood revivial is cheaper than Silverstone Classic ...? Really...? I must go and check out my sums for both again...

'Silverstone has the benefit of the spectacle of Group C, I grant you. Standing on the outfield as they turn left into Maggotts just inches in front of you is divine'

From what i have seen in Autosport the group C lemans cars will NOT be at the silverstone classic this year , But will run in their own stand alone series of races held around different europe circuits. with one race meet at brands hatch...but this idea may still change again!!

[chevronb37]

richebets said:

chevronb37 said:

KO993c4s said:

The Goodwood revivial is cheaper than Silverstone Classic ...? Really...? I must go and check out my sums for both again...

'Silverstone has the benefit of the spectacle of Group C, I grant you. Standing on the outfield as they turn left into Maggotts just inches in front of you is divine'

From what i have seen in Autosport the group C lemans cars will NOT be at the silverstone classic this year , But will run in their own stand alone series of races held around different europe circuits. with one race meet at brands hatch...but this idea may still change again!!

The Group C/GTP series has been stand-alone for several years now. I was most fortunate to attend the first revived race at Donington which must've been about 2002 (I'd need to check my programme archive for confirmation). They will be supporting the Le Mans 24hrs as well. To my knowledge the last time they raced at Brands was at the Superprix in 2004 when Brian de Vries had brought one of his Intrepids over. I remember the heartache as he spun on the first lap. It would appear they will not be racing at the Classic, which is a shame - it is certainly one of the annual highlights.

To respond to the post above, there have recently been two major historic events at Brands Hatch. The Master Series hold one of their race days there which includes GP cars, World Sportscar Masters, Touring Cars, etc. There is also the Superprix which is run by the HSCC and usually has a couple of exciting guest races, like Group C or Orwell Supersports Cup.

[aidandavies]

I vote for Silverstone Classic as well, I went last year and going again this year. There might not be any group C but they are celebrating 60 years of the Formula One World Championship.

[goodspeed]

goodspeed said:

Silverstone classic gets my vote 2009 was brilliant and the evening concerts were awesome will defo go again this year.

[havoc]

Classic is an awesome event.

Not done F1, but can see it being exceptionally crowded, with nowhere near the same level of access to cars & drivers.



That said, if you're a big F1 fan, then it's probably worth the whole circus just to experience it...